Posts by Jonathan Petty

From self-driving cars to smartwatches, we are all becoming more and more reliant on technology in our daily lives. Unfortunately, a defective “smart” device can cause catastrophic injuries. Below, the product liability team at Phelan Petty discusses the developing field of artificial intelligence (AI) liability. What Is Artificial Intelligence? Fueled by increasingly sophisticated software, chip…

How Do I Sue a Doctor for Medical Malpractice in Virginia? Claims against negligent doctors, providers, and medical facilities are some of the most complicated injury claims. Virginia law establishes strict rules about the timing and procedures associated with medical malpractice claims, and a single mistake can result in delays and lost compensation. In this…

As the holiday season approaches, don’t forget about the potential hazard lithium-ion batteries pose to children. In the United States, emergency rooms treat more than 2,800 children each year who have swallowed the small button batteries found in devices like electronic toys, remote controls, key fobs, and musical greeting cards. Even more alarming, lithium-ion batteries…

Nursing home abuse is a form of medical malpractice. When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you expect them to receive exceptional care. Unfortunately, residents in nursing homes are vulnerable, and far too many nursing homes expose their residents to abuse and neglect. These abuses don’t just happen in the lowest-cost nursing…

A medical mistake can change your life forever. Victims of medical malpractice often face a lifetime of lost income, high medical and nursing bills, and immense grief. Unfortunately, if the malpractice occurred in Virginia, no matter how significant your damages are or how shocking the doctor’s negligence, you’ll face a damage cap. Keep reading to…

Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose are two of the most common forms of medical malpractice. However, proving that a diagnostic error constitutes medical malpractice can be challenging, and cases involving misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose require incredibly complex investigations as well as expert witness testimony and a thorough understanding of the law. If you or…

Injured patients have filed thousands of lawsuits against the manufacturers of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. These lawsuits allege that manufacturers willfully hid evidence that many of the filters are defective and dangerous. However, while at least one federal plaintiff has received a multimillion-dollar verdict, others have faced major challenges in litigation. Below, the medical…

When a doctor’s errors cause catastrophic injuries, you have every right to demand justice. We place immense trust in physicians, and medical malpractice can shatter this trust and change your life forever. However, malpractice claims against a physician, nurse, or other medical provider are highly technical. Without expert witnesses willing to testify that your medical care was…

For years, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) has ignored complaints about dangerous doctors and hidden their violations from regulators, says a government watchdog organization. If you were injured by a negligent VA doctor, you have legal rights and options. Learn more about the VA’s doctor crisis and about related medical malpractice claims below. Virginia’s Veteran Population Is Growing Currently, Virginia has the…

“Frivolous lawsuits.” Everybody knows that there are too many frivolous lawsuits in this country, right? Everybody knows that our jury system is so broken that hordes of dishonest plaintiffs and their “greedy trial lawyers” file thousands of baseless claims every year, right? Everybody knows that honest doctors are being driven out of the practice of…